Impetous Actions And Their Tragic Consequences

Impetuous actions can dramatically alter the life of anybody in many ways. The lack of thinking things through and acting solely on one particular emotion can lead to unanticipated results. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows how impetuous actions combined with the need for lust can lead to a tragic end. It wasn't fate but rather Romeo and Juliet's hasty actions that brought their untimely deaths.

Love at first sight ultimately led to the premature deaths of the two lovers. At the Capulet party was where Romeo first sees Juliet:

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear-

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows

As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand

And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear is sight,

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

(1.5.51-60)

At the very first sight of Juliet, Romeo immediately falls in love with her. He doesn't begin to think about her character, age, or even about whether she is married. If Romeo had taken his time and gotten to know Juliet and thought about what might come of this attraction, the tragic ending to their story could have been avoided. Romeo is not all to blame for the tragedy. Juliet felt exactly the same way about Romeo when she first saw him:

My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

Prodigious birth of love it is to me

That I must love a loathed enemy.

(1.5.152-155)

Like Romeo, if Juliet had just taken some time to think things through, this disaster might have never occurred.

After the two lovers had met, they made many hasty decisions and actions that only made their circumstances worse. The night the two sweethearts met the decided to get married:

Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.

If that thy bent of love be honorable,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,

By one that I'll procure to come to thee,

Where and what tine thou wilt perform the rite,

And all my fortunes at they foot I'll lay

And follow thee my lord throughout the world.

(2.2.149-155)

The very next day the Romeo and Juliet were married in secret to prevent another fight erupting between the Capulet and Montague families.